2016 Chauvin

Sylvie Cazes took over this property in 2014. Very deep crimson. Rather attractively smooth, meaty nose with suggestions of a butcher’s shop. Nicely integrated, racy fresh fruit. This one bounds along with very well-integrated tannins that emerge only on the very end of the palate. Promising. (JR)

The 2016 Château Chauvin checks in as a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon. This deeply colored effort offers a serious bouquet of blackberries and black cherries, scorched earth, graphite, and camphor. It's rich, powerful, and concentrated, with ripe tannins that kick in on the finish. My instincts say this will shut down, so either try a bottle over the next year or two or hold off for a good 7-8 years. Tasted twice.

The 2016 Chauvin has a tightly wound bouquet of macerated small black cherries, blueberry and cassis aromas; it feels forward and generous, but it would benefit from greater delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with plump tannin, a rounded texture and firm grip, tightening up toward a linear finish that will need bottle age to loosen up. I am sure it will, hence the plus sign against my score.